A History of the Monks of Syria these counsels resemble the sayings

these counsels resemble the sayings of the ancient Desert Fathers

so that the complete Octoechos is repeated every eight weeks throughout most of the year

Based on Holy Scripture and patristic teaching

Prepared by the nuns of the convent dedicated to her memory at Jordanville NY

Ann McIntyre

A History of the Monks of Syria these counsels resemble the sayingsTheodoret of Cyrrhus A contemporary account of the lives of the monks of 4th and 5th century Syria. These spiritual giants make a startling contrast to the "educated, cultured" society of the Greco Romans. In the spiritual tradition of St. John the Baptist, they grew to holiness without the refinements of polite society unwashed, unkempt, usually homeless and poorly educated, demonstrating in their lives the folly of the wisdom of this world.